Monday, December 31, 2007

I don't really believe in making New Year's resolutions. You only keep them for about three weeks, and then you feel bad because you've set a lot of unrealistic expectations that you can't possibly keep. However, I've decided to make just a few guidelines (said like Barbossa) that might help throughout the next year. First, I'm going to make a greater effort towards getting out of my comfort zone. I tend to like to stay in my room and work on stories and read, rather than spending a lot of time with other people. That kind of behavior will make me even more eccentric than I already am, so I'm going to try and do better in that area. Next, I want to be a lot more organized in my work, school, and ordinary life. I lose things all the time (I just spent an hour looking for my digital camera-funny how much gets lost under the bed) and I could take better care of my belongings. Thirdly, I want to be a better handmaiden to my Lord. I already pray quite a bit, but I'm not terribly faithful about reading my Bible. I'd like to change that. Finally, I'd like to learn to lean on the Lord. I worry about things constantly-my friends, my family, my future. This past year I've spent in foolish fears. This coming year, I'd like to spend in trust and peace. I want everyone that read this post to know that I pray for you, and I wish the very best for you throughout this new year. May you find fulfillment in all that you undertake and desire. Love, Me.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Here are some things I've learned this week. Each has been vitally important for my development as a human being.1.) Antibiotics are God's gift to mankind. They get rid of pimples and ear infections, ergo they're marvelous.2.) Be careful when you're having a Shirley Temple marathon. The songs tend to get stuck in your head. Right now "Be Optimistic" is running through my brain and it won't stop. I'm getting tired of being told not to be a grumpy.3.) Sometimes beginning a story is hard, sometimes ending a story is harder.4.) If you want Shelby to be happy, update your stories regularly.5.) If you need jeans, go to the after-Christmas sale. However, be sure to be the defibrillator for when your mother has a heart attack in the middle of the store because your sixty dollar jeans end up being thirteen.6.) Book costs are so much cheaper when you don't have a lot of psychology classes. Take my advice and be an English major. We have more fun anyway.7.) Eighteen year old girls that get pregnant are stupid.8.) Looking forward to your birthday is half the fun....especially when you're going to Florida two days afterwards.9.) Brothers can sometimes be wonderful when you're having a melt-down.10.) Outlining a story can be really frightening.Hope you're all well!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to meOne pair of cute pink sheets.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to meTwo Starburst packsAnd one pair of cute pink sheets

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Six Dickens movies,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Seven candy canes,Six Dickens movies,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Eight kinds of lotion,Seven candy canes,Six Dickens movies,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Nine bars of chocolate,Eight kinds of lotion,Seven candy canes,Six Dickens movies,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,Ten Gilmore Girls seasons,Nine bars of chocolate,Eight kinds of lotion,Seven candy canes,Six Dickens movies,Five trendy shirts!Four brand new books,Three new movies,Two Starburst packs,And one pair of cute pink sheets.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

In the past few days, I've been reflecting on the nature of Christmas. We all want to do so many things-visit family, make cookies, go shopping, wrap presents-that we forget to take the time to breath and remember just what all this hustle and bustle is about. Of course, this hustle and bustle does more than just make Christmas crowded-it also makes people stressed out and irritable. Why is it, do you think, that we make a season of such joy and goodwill into a season of stress and restlessness? Christmas is all about love, about how love came down to earth, and Jesus humbled Himself so that he could become a man, one of those creatures which His father had created. But how can we possibly appreciate the beauty of the season if we're too tired to notice it? I'll keep this simple, folks. Please, remember what's important about Christmas. Take the time to smell the Christmas tree, to play with your family, to read the Christmas story in the Bible and remember that this holiday is about more than the buying and giving away of presents. Christmas will have no meaning if you take it away.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Bobby, you can chill out now. Your comments are now up.Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Rachel! She's 17 today. Love you bunches, sweetie!Today is going to be a happy day, I do believe. Firstly, I'll get to wear my new leather jacket out into the world. I got it on Wednesday, for an UNBELIEVABLE price! I was so excited! Although I wasn't sure how to feel when Evan told me it made me look sexy...I suppose I'll take it as a compliment. :D Next, I'm going to be meeting Evan, Bobby, and Bobby's family at the movie theater to see the second National Treasure movie. I loved the first one, so I'm really hoping that this one won't pull a Pirates and be horrible beyond belief. We live in hope!Finally, I am also planning on cleaning out Evan's bathroom closet. I can't take it anymore-there's a green glow emitting from the premises. I love looking at things after they've just been organized!Anyway, I hope you all have a fabulous day!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I am so totally wigging out at the moment! I'll copy and paste my reasons for wigging out now: Peter Jackson, Oscar-winning director of the Lord of the Rings movies, has signed a deal to produce two films based on JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit.The filmmaker had been in dispute with New Line Cinema over income generated by the first film in the Rings trilogy."I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us," said Jackson. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."A director for the films - prequels to the Rings movies - has yet to be named.The two Hobbit films will be filmed simultaneously, with their release planned for 2010 and 2011.'New chapter'Sir Ian McKellen has already expressed an interest in reprising his role as the wizard Gandalf.In a statement, Jackson said the agreement enabled his Wingnut Films company to "begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line".The three films in the Rings trilogy generated $3bn (£1.48bn) at the worldwide box office and won 17 Oscars.New Line co-chairman Bob Shaye had previously said Jackson would never make The Hobbit "during my watch".AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I get to go home! I've missed Middle Earth so much, and the idea that I can be there again is just....wow. I almost cried when I found this out. YAY!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Yesterday, I had the privilege of getting to see "The Nutcracker" performed at the Orpheum. As most of you know, I absolutely love ballet, but I hardly ever get to see it-so seeing any ballet is a treat. And then for me to be able to see "Nutcracker", my absolute favorite ballet...well, let's just say that it was a fabulous experience. I just love the whole story-the idea of a little girl getting swept away into a dream on Christmas Eve, where she goes to the Land of Sweets and rules besides the Nutcracker Prince, and is visited by beautiful dancers and fairies. Not to mention, of course, that the ballet is highly appropriate for modern times. After all, if it weren't for Clara throwing the slipper at the mouse king, the rascally rodent would never have been defeated! But still, I've been entranced by this ever since I was a little girl. My mom bought me a video of Baryshnikov version of it, and I watched it religiously until our mean VCR ate my tape. Then last year, Mom found it on DVD on Amazon, and gave it to me for Christmas. I was so excited! But I guess I'm babbling...in any case, I was just struck by the continuity and the impact of this ballet. It's still affecting people today-it just isn't possible NOT to like "The Nutcracker." When we went to the ballet yesterday, I was leaning forward in my seat, watching the story unfold before me. When Clara received her nutcracker from Uncle Drosselmeyer, I found myself feeling just as awed and thrilled by the sight as I was when I was five. But then, I was flabbergasted by what I heard next. Behind me came the voice of a little girl, whispering to her mother. "She got a nutcracker." The awe, the excitement, and the amazement in this little girl's whisper just hit me. How amazing, that a simple story can still have the same affect on people! I'm almost twenty years old, and I felt a connection with this tiny child behind me, perhaps seeing the ballet for the first time. We didn't know each other, and we'll probably never see one another again. But we were both struck by the same story, and the same magic captured both of our imaginations. How beautiful.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.Sorry, had to share this one.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Christmas music rocks. End of story. Christmas attitudes rock-everyone's much friendlier. That is, once exams are over. Christmas trees that are still shining brightly when you come downstairs at night rock. Christmas movies rock (with the possible exception of "It's a Wonderful Life"). Christmas cookies rock. Christmas break rocks. Except it folks, Christmas is an all around, rocking holiday. What part of Christmas rocks hardcore for you? THE MANAGEMENT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ITS APOLOGIES FOR THIS POST. THE AUTHOR WAS FEELING SLIGHTLY STRANGE AFTER HER EXAM. EVERYTHING WILL BE NORMAL SOON.......SO WE HOPE. IS THE AUTHOR, AFTER ALL, EVER NORMAL? WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. -THE MGMT

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Hey, folks. Can't talk long tonight, because I've got an exam tomorrow and I can't stay up late. I'm not really worried about the exam, per se. I've studied and I know the material fairly well...I just don't test well at all. I'm really nervous that I'm going to walk in and completely forget everything I've learned. Not to mention the fact that it's a psychology exam, and those can either be REALLY easy, or REALLY hard. Please pray for me, if you get a chance. However, I'm also thrilled that my new piano is getting tuned tomorrow, HOORAY! I can't wait to hear how it sounds once all those sour notes are fixed. Today was a good day, though. I slept until ten (guilty), got dressed, and did some chores. Then I went to Target, picked up "Order of the Phoenix" and came home. Bobby came over shortly afterwards, and Evan, Shelby and I played Frisbee with him in the front yard for a while...it's eighty frigging degrees here, so the weather was undeniably beautiful. The Frisbee did get run over at one point but miraculously, wasn't broken! Weird....Evan and Bobby also demonstrated their skill at rolling when I told them how I'd been taught at self-defense class. They tried to make me do it, but thankfully, I eluded them. Soon after this, Bobby took Shelby to the bank, and they came home with ice cream for everyone. Yum! Shelby and I watched Harry Potter while Mom had her yearbook Christmas party (although we were interrupted several times by Mom, Bobby, and Drew. Conspiracy, perhaps? Who knows.). After that, I found out that my exam is tomorrow, not Thursday as I'd thought, so I had to do some power studying. Thankfully, the exam is going to be on Social Psychology, which I'd already spent a whole semester on in my, gasp! Social Psychology class! Anyway, soon after I finished studying, we found out that Drew was going to stay here at the house for the next couple of days so that he can avoid the Italian mafia, so Evan and I cleaned out the guest room and I cleaned his bathroom, because Evan OBVIOUSLY has NO idea how to clean a bathroom properly. Now I'm here. Fun, productive, and FAST! Good day. How was yours?

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Now that the Christmas holidays are finally (almost, still have a few exams, but nothing I'm really worried about) here, the fun task of deciding what to do with my time is upon me. First of all, I haven't been able to write at all for about three weeks, so I think my first order of business is to update my stories. Secondly, I think I'm going to begin one of my novels, I'm just not sure which one. I think "Beauty From Ashes" is the closest to being ready to write...but this journal idea won't let me alone, either. Decisions, decisions. I also think that I'm going to clean out my closet-I can't be sure, but I think perhaps a cave troll might be lurking in there. There are certainly enough places for it to hide. Then, I think I'm going to have a Supernatural marathon and go through both seasons straight through. I haven't been able to do that since school started, and I kind of miss Sam and Dean. I'm also going to finish re-reading all of the Narnia and Lord of the Rings books-it's been a long time. One of my other ambitions is to get some serious piano work done, now that I have a proper instrument on which to practice on. I've been highly negligent of my music, and I don't want to lose whatever small talent I have. I'll also be darned if I'm going to let that mean Moonlight Sonata defeat me! I've been trying to play that song for years, and I quit periodically-not because it's too hard, but because my hands are too small for those massive chords. My wrists start to ache by the third page. However, it's a lovely song, and I'm determined to finish it! In any case, I have lots of lovely things to look forward to. I hope everyone is enjoying the mere THOUGHT of Christmas vacation as much as I am. I'll be twenty in twenty-two days...YIKES! Scary.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

So, my day was rather interesting. It all began much earlier than I would have liked, as I had to go to my self-defense class. I drove there, only to arrive to hear the dreaded words: "We're going to be learning how to fall today." I want give you the sordid details, only to say that one of my legs isn't working and that I have a bruise the size of Texas on my bum. I'm sure you all wanted to hear that, but yeah. Then I came home, and helped my brothers, mother, and grandmother arrange my grandmother's dining room/library, which we'd painted last week. Then I came back to the house and cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom. The rest of the day was spent holed up in my room, watching anime, the Mummy movies, and now I'm on Die Hard 2. I have managed to get something accomplished, so there you are. I'm afraid that I'm in a slightly numb mood, so don't expect anything brilliant from me today. I'll try and do better tomorrow. Love to you all!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Well, as I come sheepishly out from behind a door....leave me alone, Bobby, here's a new post! :D In any case, I have a long list of excuses for having not posted the past week. They are as follows: 1. Exams. 2. Papers. 3. The black cloud that's been hanging over my head; please, let me explain this one. I couldn't use my laptop because my power cord died...along with other various pieces of technology around me, including a tire that I managed to blow. Explode would probably be a more accurate term, but yeah....Been a little busy. However, I do think that the black cloud has dispered...thank goodness, I tripped this morning and nearly sprained my ankle. School is almost over now, and things are starting to relax. The post is a little garbled...I think I'm out of practice. I'll return tonight for another go. Vaya con Dios!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

I, BlindingFirefly, am the proud owner of a baby grand piano. It sits proudly in my dining room, built of lovely dark wood and gleaming keys. Now, if only I had the money to get it tuned...Still, it's a happy day for my family!

Pseudo-Firebird

Out of the Ashes

In childhood, I was the butterflyBrightly colored, joyous, energeticI flitted from here to there, helter-skelterContent to be on the move, happy to be loved.Hues were vibrant, sounds beyond all description.The little bird, chirping merrily,Never caring whether I was on key or not.I was the butterfly.

Later, a blow came.The butterfly lost its wings. The joy left the world.The light went out, almost, but never quite.It kept going.I became the firefly then, a creature of the evening.The light was faint, sometimes going out,But always returning, never dying.Hope was faint, but it never left.

And today? What am I today?Today I became the phoenix.The layers of pain became a prison that could not hold me.The flames renewed, restored the joy.The journey has been long, but today the flight,The sky is worth it all.Bitterness, pain, resentment, I suddenly realizeHave led me to today.

Today, I became the phoenix.

--Katie Johnson

About Me

I am a music and book-loving Christian girl. So, basically just like eighty percent of the rest of the population. I majored in English and minored in psychology. I am also working on the world's first cliche free novel and going through withdrawal from sour gummy worms. I love to sing, take naps, have dinner with my friends and mock anything possible, particularly parades.

Phoenix Poems, Quotes, and Facts

"The phoenix, hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise."--Miquel de Cervates Saavedra

So often, we believe that we have come to a place that is void of hope and void of possibilities, only to find that it is the very hopelessness that allows us to hit bottom, give up our illusion of control, turn it over, and ask for help. Out of the ashesof our hopelessnesscomes the fire of our hope.--Anne Wilson Shaef

"The Phoenix became popular in early Christian art, literature and Christian symbolism, as a symbol of Christ, and further, represented the resurrection, immortality, and the life-after-death of Jesus Christ."

Like the mighty phoenix, Once again I rise from the flames set to destroy me & take flight. I am Stronger Glorious Powerful Victorious.--Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS

"It's best to have failure happen early in life. It wakes up the phoenix bird in you so you rise from the ashes."--Anne Baxter

"In Japan, as earlier in China, the mythical Phoenix was adopted as a symbol of the imperial household, particularily the empress. This mythical bird represents fire, the sun, justice, obedience, and fidelity."